FDCA leads a statewide business network with members in varied and diverse industries. Hundreds of Florida companies earn prime contract defense revenue each year, and thousands more are subcontractors.

Each one contributes to and provides the best equipment and services in the world for our men and women serving in the US Armed Forces through:

Advanced Manufacturing
Aerospace
Construction
Engineering
Information Technology
Research and Development
Simulation and Training
Security Services
Transportation and logistics
and more.

Events Drive Business Development
Business development opportunities occur when businesses connect. It takes time to find the right contact at the right company who can help your business succeed. Are you reaching your target audience?FDCA events are open to all Florida defense business professionals (except the Federal Affairs Workshop). Members receive discounts.

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FDCA's audience is your audience. You have many options, and your time is valuable.

Your audience attends our events, which are specifically designed for defense businesses, so you receive a better return on your time and resources investment:

Webinars are efficient tools for you to exchange knowledge and keep up with what is affecting the industry in Florida and your business.

Coming Soon!

Advocating a Better Business Climate
Florida's business climate greatly affects your competitiveness. Your company is a federal contractor, but is also a Florida business. We have unique issues our industry and businesses need to bring to the attention of state leaders.

Every major industry in Florida has a presence in Tallahassee. FDCA is yours.

Our focal point for advocacy is the Florida Legislature and Executive Branch during the annual Legislative Session. We are working on your behalf for:

Defense Works in Florida

Unemployment Insurance Relief

Economic development incentive for Florida prime contractors to target and award subcontracts to Florida small business subcontractors

Your business may or may not have the resources for a government affairs staff, or the time and relationships it takes to invest toward a better business climate in Florida; however, a small portion of FDCA membership dues goes towards this vital work.

Connect and stay informed of events and news in your area and around the state:Free and open to the public regardless of membership status

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Friday, January 23, 2015

"The first wave of proposals meant to the revamp the Defense Department’s buying policies likely will be released this spring, House Armed Services Committee Chairman Mac Thornberry (R-Texas) said on Tuesday.

However, observers shouldn’t “expect everything to be solved in a single bound,” he said.

“There is not going to be a 2,000-page bill that resolves acquisition. It does not exist. Nobody is that smart," Thornberry said after a speech at the conservative American Enterprise Institute.

Instead, the suggestions could be incorporated into this year’s National Defense Authorization Act, but only after first getting feedback from government and industry, he said."

"Gulf Power is partnering with the U.S. Navy and U.S. Air Force to build solar energy farms at three different facilities across Northwest Florida. Today, the utility submitted the renewable projects to the Florida Public Service Commission (FPSC) for approval. The projects could be in service as early as December 2016.

“This is an important collaboration between Gulf Power, the Navy and the Air Force,” said Stan Connally, Gulf Power president and CEO. “As military installations seek solutions to promote renewable energy generation, we have worked alongside our military customers to help provide cost-effective solutions — and all our customers will reap the benefit.”

This is Gulf Power’s second alternative energy project since launching the 3.2-megawatt Perdido Landfill Gas-to-Energy facility in 2010. Together, these new solar facilities, which will be developed by HelioSage Energy, could produce enough energy to power approximately 18,000 homes for one year."

"Lockheed Martin Corp's F-35 fighter jet is on track both to meet the Marine Corps's July target to declare the jet ready for combat use and to meet the Air Force's target date a year later, top U.S. military officials said Thursday.

The F-35 B-model, which can take off from shorter runways and land like a helicopter, was making good progress and should meet the Marine Corp's target for initial combat use, Navy Secretary Ray Mabus told reporters after a speech at the annual conference of the Surface Navy Association.

Air Force Chief of Staff General Mark Welsh told a separate news conference at the Pentagon that he was confident the Air Force would meet its target date of declaring the F-35 A-model ready for initial combat use by August to December 2016."

"The Defense Department intends to request a 10-year extension of a program that improves the ability of socioeconomically disadvantaged small businesses to compete for defense contracts, the program’s manager said yesterday.

The Small Business Mentor-Protege Program began in 1991 as a way to foster small businesses and improve technology transfer between the Defense Department and industry, Robert Stewart said in a DoD News interview.

Despite having been in existence for nearly 25 years, the program is still categorized as a pilot and must be reauthorized in a National Defense Authorization Act every few years, he said."

"The Florida SBDC Network and Enterprise Florida, Inc. (EFI) will sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) during a signing ceremony Thursday at the DoubleTree Hotel Tallahassee, solidifying a partnership to assist Florida-based companies tap into overseas markets.

Under the agreement, the Florida SBDC and EFI, in partnership with the U.S. Commercial Service, are offering a scholarship export assistance program to qualified “new and infrequent export” manufacturers and professional service providers to meet with a Florida SBDC International Trade Specialist to prepare a customized export marketing plan."

"The new chairman of the House Armed Services Committee defended a host of controversial decisions made by Congress that went against the Pentagon's recommendation – namely paying to upgrade Abrams tanks, keep the A-10 alive, and stifle stiffer pay and benefits decreases.

Rep. William McClellan "Mac" Thornberry, R-Texas, set out an agenda Tuesday that signaled another year of budget conflict with the White House and Pentagon on issues ranging from pay and benefits to retention of the A-10 and upgrades for Army tanks.

"Some people expect lawmakers to just cut the check and not ask too many questions," Thornberry, R-Texas said at the American Enterprise Institute. "But Congress should not give any president a blank check, nor should Congress be a rubber stamp.""

"Miami-Dade's longtime port chief -- and current head of the water-and-sewer department -- was named Thursday to head Florida's economic-development arm.

Bill Johnson succeeds Gray Swoope as CEO of Enterprise Florida, a post that also came with the title of Commerce Secretary (Jeb Bush's first state job).

"You'll see me in the Panhandle. You'll see me in the Keys. You'll see me in Jacksonville," Johnson told the Enterprise Florida board at Thursday's meeting. "You'll see me around the state. You'll see me listening.""

Lockheed Martin, Orlando, Florida, was awarded a $28,246,765 firm-fixed-price foreign military sales (Korea, Indonesia, Qatar, Singapore) multi-year contract with options for 320 Launchers and 4 Launcher Electronic Assembly (LEAs) in support of the Joint Attack Munitions Systems (JAMS) M299 HELLFIRE launchers, spares and engineering support . Work will be performed in Orlando, Florida, with an estimated completion date of Dec. 31, 2017.

Harris Corp., Government Communications Systems, Palm Bay, Florida, has been awarded a $15,931,358 modification (P00194) to previously awarded contract FA8819-08-C-0001 for Space Control Depot support. The contractor will provide depot and sustainment engineering, repairable and disposable item management, stock, storage and issuance of spares, hardware and software maintenance and other activities. Work will be performed at Palm Bay, Florida, and is expected to be complete by Jan. 31, 2016.